System for using mobile devices to output video data sets at a venue

ABSTRACT

A system is provided to output video data sets at a venue. The system includes a video catalog that stores a plurality of video data sets available for display at the venue and which is remotely located from the venue. The system also includes a server system in electronic communication with the video catalog and remotely located from the venue. The server system receives association requests from mobile devices of users which are used to associate the respective mobile devices with the venue. The venue has one or more venue controllers communicatively coupled to the server system. The mobile devices are remotely located from the server system. The server system transmits a listing of the plurality of video data sets to the associated mobile devices and receives selections of one or more of the plurality of video data sets to be played at the venue. The server system then transmits the selected one or more video data sets to a respective network interface of at least one of the one or more venue controllers which cause the one or more video data sets to be displayed on one or more display devices deployed at the venue.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.61/784,275, entitled “System and Method for Song to Video Initiation,”filed on Mar. 14, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated byreference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention relates to converting users'audio play selections to music video purchases, and more particularly,to jukeboxes with music video up-sell capabilities.

Jukeboxes having a plurality of songs available for selection and playare generally known. Jukeboxes typically operate upon input of currencyand are installed in venues such as bars, restaurants, airports,shopping malls, video arcades, casinos or the like. Upon receipt ofcurrency, a user is prompted to select one or more songs for play. Songsare played typically over a public speaker system installed in the venueof the jukebox. Originally, the music selections were provided on 45 rpmrecords that were played by an automated turntable in the jukebox. Thevinyl records were eventually replaced by compact discs (CDs) and theturntable replaced by a CD player. More recently, jukeboxes have becomecomputerized, capable of playing selections of music as MP3 files,streaming audio data sets, or the like.

In particular, jukeboxes are presently connected to networks and canreceive digital audio files over Broadband connections, thereby reducingmemory size requirements. Despite the network capabilities, currentjukeboxes still have functional limitations that limit the informationand experience that may be provided to a user. In particular, suchjukeboxes are unable to up-sell video files corresponding to theselected audio files. This missed up-sell opportunity reduces per-venueand per-jukebox revenues.

It is desirable to provide a jukebox network that provides access tomusic video data to a plurality of jukeboxes, each of which may presentoffers to upgrade audio selections to video selections. It is furtherdesirable to improve per-jukebox revenue by offering music videoupgrades when such upgrades are available. It is also desirable tosubscribe venues to music video subscription packages that allow patronsto select and/or purchase music video plays at a venue using mobileapplications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a method of converting audio selections to videoselections is described. An input of an audio selection is received froma user. A database of music videos is queried to determine whether amusic video corresponding to the audio selection is available. The audioselection is output in response to determining that the database ofmusic videos does not include the music video corresponding to the audioselection. An offer is presented to the user to upgrade the audioselection to the music video corresponding to the audio selection inresponse to determining that the database of music videos includes themusic video corresponding to the audio selection. The music video isoutput to one or more displays in response to the user accepting thepresented offer.

In another embodiment, a system for outputting music videos at a venueis described. The system includes a video catalog and a server system.The video catalog stores a plurality of video data sets available fordisplay at the venue. The server system is configured to receive, over afirst network, association requests from mobile devices of users. Theassociation requests associate the respective mobile devices with thevenue. The venue has one or more venue controllers communicativelycoupled to the server system by a second network. The server systemtransmits, over the first network, a listing of the plurality of videodata sets to the associated mobile devices, and receives selections ofone or more of the plurality of video data sets to be played at thevenue from at least one of the associated mobile devices. The serversystem transmits, over the second network, the selected one or morevideo data sets to at least one of the one or more venue controllers.The one or more venue controllers cause the transmitted one or morevideo data sets to be displayed on one or more display devices deployedat the venue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofpreferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood whenread in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose ofillustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodimentsthat are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that theinvention is not limited to the precise arrangements andinstrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a jukebox device for use in accordancewith preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a jukebox network in accordance withpreferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram of interactions between a user and ajukebox for offering a video file corresponding to a selected audio filein accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of interactions between a user, a jukebox,and a server system for offering a video file corresponding to aselected audio file in accordance with preferred embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of an amusement system including one ormore amusement devices and one or more jukeboxes;

FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram of an amusement system including a venuecontroller for controlling one or more electronic devices; and

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram of interactions in a subscription-based ondemand video system in accordance with preferred embodiments of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenienceonly and is not limiting. The words “right”, “left”, “lower”, and“upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made.The terminology includes the above-listed words, derivatives thereof,and words of similar import. Additionally, the words “a” and “an”, asused in the claims and in the corresponding portions of thespecification, mean “at least one.”

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference numeralsindicate like elements throughout, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 apreferred embodiment of a jukebox device 12. The jukebox device 12includes a controller U1 and a memory U2. The memory U2 can be any knownor suitable memory device or combination of such devices such as randomaccess memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash RAM, hard disk,optical disk, or the like. The jukebox device 12 further includes avideo display 20 that is operatively connected to the controller U1.Preferably, the video display 20 is a touchscreen video displayconfigured to accept touch input. The jukebox device 12 shown in FIG. 1is a free-standing or floor-standing apparatus, but may also be arrangedin any configuration including table mount, wall mount, pole mount, andthe like without departing from the invention.

The jukebox device 12 may also include at least one value input or valueacceptor 22 that receives value in order to establish one or morecredits. The value received may be at least one of currency, coins,tokens, chits, credits, credit cards/debit cards, or the like. FIG. 1shows a coin acceptor 22 a and a bill acceptor 22 b as part of thejukebox device 12. In addition, value may also be received through inputof a keypad or touchscreen of online account data, personalidentification numbers (PINs), or the like, which may obviate the needfor a value acceptor 22, although such methods are not mutuallyexclusive and may both be provided to provide a user 300 (FIG. 3) with awide array of payment options. Preferably, the jukebox device 12 is madeoperable only upon receipt of value, for example, the user 300 may onlyselect and play a song once value is received and/or one or more creditsare established. However, free selections may be offered at thediscretion of an operator of the jukebox device 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, an input component 24 is coupled to the controllerU1. The input component 24 is preferably a touchscreen input from thedisplay 20, but may also be one or more of a pushbutton(s), a track-ballor touchpad, a mouse, a joy-stick, a foot-pedal, a voice recognitionsystem, a keypad or keyboard, and the like. Further, multiple inputcomponents 24 of the foregoing or other types may be provided on thejukebox device 12.

The jukebox device 12 also includes an audio output 26 coupled to thecontroller U1. The audio output 26 is preferably a digital amplifierwith a multi-channel, pre-amplifier and one or more sockets forconnection to one or more speakers or the like (not shown).Additionally, the audio output 26 may comprise one or more sockets forconnection to an external audio amplification system (not shown), suchas a stereo, wall-mounted speakers, surround sound system, or the like.The audio output 26 may also comprise one or more speakers internallyhoused by the jukebox device 12. Volume may be controlled by an externalcontrol, wireless remote, or an on-screen volume control manipulated viathe touchscreen display 20.

FIG. 2 shows the jukebox device 12 as part of a network 10 having aplurality of additional jukebox devices 12 connected thereto. Each ofthe jukebox devices 12 is preferably in communication with a serversystem 14. The server system 14 is preferably one or more physicaland/or virtual server devices, each having one or more processors, anetwork interface for interacting with external devices over a networksuch as the Internet, or the like, and one or more mass storage devices.Intermediate connections between the jukebox devices 12 and the serversystem 14, such as additional file servers, computers, other jukeboxdevices 12, or the like, may also be implemented. Functions of theserver system 14 may be divided among a plurality of devices, such as inan N-tier server system, or the like. The controller U1 of the jukeboxdevice 12 preferably communicates with the server system 14 over anEthernet port, a wireless transceiver, or the like and may communicatewith other devices or file servers, access the Internet, communicateover wide area networks (WANs) or local area networks (LANs), or thelike. The jukebox device 12 preferably remains operable even ifdisconnected from the network 10.

Turning now to the operation of the jukebox device 12, the memory U2 maystore a plurality of music data sets, a plurality of video data sets,and a system control program (e.g., an operating system). A music dataset includes the audio data required for playing a song through theoutput component or audio output 26, and may be stored in anyconventional format, such as an MP3 file, WAV file, or the like. Videodata sets include multimedia data (i.e., video data and synchronizedaudio data) required for playing a music video through the outputcomponent or audio output 26 and the video display 20, or an externaldisplay device (not shown). Video data sets may be stored in anyconventional file format, such as Audio Video Interleave (AVI), FlashVideo, MPEG4, and the like.

Preferably, the music data set and the video data set each also includea plurality of identification values (also known as “metadata”)corresponding to a respective plurality of identification categories.Examples of identification categories include a song title, an albumtitle, an artist name, a genre of music, or the like. In the preferredembodiment, the metadata of the music data sets is cross-referenced withcorresponding metadata of the video data sets. Thus, a video data setcorresponding to a music data set can be automatically matched and/oridentified.

Music data sets and/or video data sets may also be stored remotely, suchas at the server 14, the audio catalog 16, the video catalog 18, orother remote file storage locations accessible by the controller U1.When retrieved remotely, a music data set and/or a video data set may bestreamed to the controller U1 via a Broadband connection or the like.Alternatively, a music data set or a video data set may be downloaded bythe jukebox device 12 from the memory U2, on instruction, onto the harddrive of the jukebox device 12. Preferably, the music data set or thevideo data set is downloaded in its entirety. The jukebox device 12 thenplays the music data set or the video data set off of the jukebox harddrive. The music data set or the video data set is preferably providedserially to the memory U2 or a temporary memory of the controller U1,and the music data set or the video data set is played as packetsthereof are being received. The music data set or the video data setdoes not necessarily remain in the jukebox device memory once it hasbeen played. The music data set or the video data set is preferablybuffered such that a minor interruption in the music data set or videodata set download does not cause an interruption in the performance ofthe jukebox device 12.

The controller U1 is configured to retrieve for play, either from thememory U2 or from a remote location, such as the server 14, music datasets and video data sets selected by the user 300 from the plurality ofstored music data sets and video data sets upon establishment of one ormore credits. The controller U1 also controls the video display 20 basedupon a system control program retrieved from the memory U2 and basedupon inputs from the touchscreen or other input component 24. As usedherein, the system control program refers to all of the softwarefunctions outside of the application program files including anoperating system, display control, input control, sound drivers, and thelike. When a video data set is selected for play, the controller U1further controls the display 20 to output the video portion of the videodata set, or causes the video portion to be output to an externaldisplay (e.g., high definition television, projector, or the like)through a video output interface such as HDMI or the like.

In the preferred embodiment, audio data sets and video data sets areselectable individually and independently of one another using variousgraphical user interfaces, as is well known to those skilled in the art.In order to improve revenue of jukeboxes 12, in response to receiving anaudio data set selection, the controller U1 of the jukebox 12 isconfigured to search its hard drive and, optionally, one or more remotedatabases such as the video catalog 18 to identify a video data setcorresponding to the audio data set selection. If the controller U1identifies a corresponding video data set, the controller U1 outputs anoffer on the display 20 to upgrade the audio selection to thecorresponding video in exchange for additional value from the user 300.For example, if an audio costs two (2) play credits, an upgrade to videomay cost one (1) additional play credit, for a total of three (3) playcredits. Preferably, the offer to upgrade the audio selection to videois presented on a confirmation or checkout screen.

Referring to FIG. 2, the server 14 is communicably coupled to one ormore audio catalogs 16 and one or more video catalogs 18. In onepreferred embodiment, the audio catalogs 16 and the video catalogs 18are distinct databases. However, the audio catalog 16 and the videocatalog 18 may be implemented as one database without departing from thescope of this invention. In order to determine whether the offer shouldbe presented, when an audio selection is made by a user 300, the server14 compares the audio metadata stored in the audio catalog 16 to thevideo metadata stored in the video catalog 18 to determine whether avideo data set corresponding to the audio data set selection isavailable in the video catalog 18.

As is known to those skilled in the art, often a song has multiplerecorded versions and/or revisions, such as remixes, cover versions,acoustic versions, and the like. Therefore, the comparison of the audiocatalog 16 to the video catalog 18 to identify a corresponding videopreferably takes into account not only the artist name and song title ofthe selected audio data set, but also, the particular version or mix ofthe audio data set selected by the user 300 in the case where there aremultiple versions of the selected audio. Preferably, if a videocorresponding to the selected version or mix of the audio is notidentified, an offer to upgrade to the video is not presented to theuser 300. Thus, for example, if the user 300 selects the acousticversion of the song EVERLONG by the band the FOO FIGHTERS, but only theregular video for the song is available, the upgrade offer will not bepresented to the selecting user 300.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram of interactions between a user 300 and ajukebox 12 for presenting the user 300 with a video upgrade offer. Thejukebox 12 displays an audio choices selection screen to the user 300.The user 300 inputs a selection of one or more audio choices from thedisplayed audio choices selection screen using the input component 24.The controller U1 of the jukebox 12 searches its hard drive to determinewhether a video corresponding to the audio selection is present thereon.If a corresponding video selection is found, the jukebox 12 outputs anoffer to upgrade the audio selection to the corresponding video foradditional value. The user 300 selects whether to accept or to rejectthe offer using the input component 24. The jukebox 12 plays either thevideo or the audio based on the user's 300 selection. If the useraccepts the offer to play the corresponding video, the controller U1 ofthe jukebox 12 charges the user 300 the additional value associated withplaying the video. If the user 300 rejects the offer to play the video,makes no additional input, or if no video corresponding to the selectedaudio is found, the controller U1 retrieves for play, either from thememory U2 or from a remote location the selected audio data set.

Referring to FIG. 4, in the case where a video corresponding to aselected audio is not found locally, or if video data sets are notstored in the jukebox 12, the controller U1 may query the remote server14 for a corresponding video. The jukebox 12 transmits informationrelating to the selected audio to the server 14. Preferably, thetransmitted information is the audio data set metadata. The server 14attempts to locate video corresponding to the audio selection in thevideo catalog 18 based on the received metadata, for example, based onthe cross-referencing of the audio and video metadata. If the server 14is unable to locate the corresponding video, the server 14 optionallyqueries one or more other servers of third parties (not shown) toidentify the corresponding video. Such servers of third parties may beservers managed by record labels, or the like. In this way, the server14 has access to a vast number of video data sets that is orders ofmagnitude larger than what may be stored locally by the jukebox 12. If acorresponding video data set to the selected audio is located by theserver 14, the video is transmitted (e.g., downloaded or streamed) fromthe server 14 to the jukebox 12. Thereafter, the jukebox presents anoffer to play the corresponding video to the user 300, in the samemanner as described with reference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 5A illustrates schematically various embodiments of implementing anamusement system 1000 including one or more electronic devices 10.Electronic devices 10 preferably include display devices such astelevisions, projectors, electronic amusement devices, and the like. Avenue location 8 may, for example, house one or more electronic devices10 that may each be individually in communication with the server 14.The server 14 is typically geographically remote from the electronicdevices 10 and the jukeboxes 12.

The venue location 8 may also have a venue controller 22, enabling thecommunication between all of the electronic devices 10 and thejukebox(es) 12 housed therein with the central server 14. The venuecontroller 22 preferably serves as a central location for synchronizing,and otherwise controlling, the operation of the electronic devices 10and the jukeboxes (12). In another alternative arrangement, as shown inFIG. 8B, the venue location 8 may house its own venue controller 22,which performs all of the functions listed above with respect to thecentral server 14.

The electronic devices 10 may be connected to their correspondingservers 14, 22 through conventional communication configurations, suchas a LAN, WAN, or the like. In one preferred embodiment, an amusementdevice 10 may connect to the central server 14 via the Internet.

As shown in FIG. 5A, certain venue locations 8 do not have a jukebox 12deployed thereat. In this case, the venue controller 22 is preferablyconfigured to serve as an audio and/or video player instead of thejukebox 12. Preferably, users 300 interact either directly or indirectlywith the venue controller 22 to select content to be played by the venuecontroller 22 at the venue 8. Preferably, the venue 8 enters into asubscription-based agreement with an operator of the server 14 to allowmedia files to be played by the venue controller 22 at the venue 8. Inone embodiment, the subscription-based agreement allows the venuecontroller 22 to play an unlimited number of audio and/or video datasets at the venue 8 at the direction of venue patrons interacting withthe server 14 using their mobile devices 600. In other embodiments, thesubscription-based agreement is on a charge-per-play model wherein thevenue is periodically billed for plays occurring at the venue location 8during a pre-determined time period.

Users 300 select audio and/or video content to be played by the venuecontroller 22 at the venue 8 using their respective mobile devices 600.Preferably, the service provider associated with the server 14 providesa mobile application executable by the mobile devices 600 displaying agraphical user interface for selecting and playing the desired audioand/or video data sets. In such a case, the user 300 may be billed forplaying audio and/or video selections through an account establishedwith the service provider associated with the server 14. Therefore, thecost of playing the audio and/or video through the venue controller 22can be shifted from the venue 8 to the users 300.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram of interactions for playing audio and/orvideo through the venue controller 22. The venue controller 22 registerswith the server 14 by transmitting a registration request. The server 14registers the venue controller 22 with the venue 8 associated with thevenue controller 22. Preferably, the venue 8 is previously subscribed tothe media services provided by the server 14, or is subscribed as aresult of the registration request by the venue controller 22.

The server 14 communicates with mobile devices 600 of users 300 to allowthe users 300 to check into venue locations 8 at which they arepreferably physically present. A user 300 checks into a desired venue byselecting the venue from a list of geographically proximate venues thatis transmitted to the mobile device 600 from the server 14 based on ageographic location of the mobile device 600. Once the user 300 hasselected a venue location 8 to check in at, the server 14 associates theuser 300 with the venue 8. The server 14 identifies audio and/or videocontent available for selection by the checked in user 300 to be playedat the checked in venue 8 through the venue controller 22. The server 14retrieves and transmits the selected audio and/or video to the venuecontroller 22.

The venue controller 22 preferably includes a processor, one or morememories (not shown), and a network interface for communicating over anetwork with the server 14. Upon receiving the audio and/or video overits network interface, the venue controller 22 preferably stores thereceived audio and/or video in its memory, and the processor causes thereceived audio and/or video to be output to a sound system and/or one ormore display devices deployed at the venue location 8. Thus, the venuecontroller 22 acts as a replacement for the jukebox 12. In this way, thevenue controller 22 may be viewed as the jukebox 12 without any humaninput/output components such as the display 20 and the input component24, and the mobile devices of the users 300 may be viewed as the display20 and the input component 24 of the jukebox 12. In this way, venues 8can achieve substantial savings by foregoing acquiring the jukebox 24,and yet achieving many of its benefits.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could bemade to the embodiments described above without departing from the broadinventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that thisinvention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but itis intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A system for playing video data sets at a venue that areselected by mobile devices associated with the venue, the systemcomprising: (a) a video catalog storing a plurality of video data setsavailable for playing at the venue, the video catalog being remotelylocated from the venue; and (b) a server system in electroniccommunication with the video catalog and remotely located from the venueconfigured to: (i) transmit, over a first network, to mobile devices ofusers a list of venues that are geographically proximate to thegeographic location of the respective mobile devices; (ii) receive, overthe first network, association requests from the mobile devices ofusers, the association requests being selected from the list of venuesby respective users of the mobile devices via the mobile devices,thereby associating the respective mobile devices with the selectedvenue, the venue having one or more venue controllers communicativelycoupled to the server system by a second network, the mobile devicesbeing remotely located from the server system; (iii) transmit, over thefirst network, a listing of the plurality of video data sets that areavailable for playing at the venue to the associated mobile devices;(iv) receive, over the first network, from at least one of theassociated mobile devices, selections of one or more of the plurality ofvideo data sets to be played at the venue; and (v) transmit, over thesecond network, the selected one or more video data sets from the videocatalog via the server system to a respective network interface of atleast one of the one or more venue controllers, the one or more venuecontrollers causing the transmitted one or more video data sets to beplayed on one or more display devices deployed at the venue, wherein theone or more venue controllers do not include an input separate from therespective network interface for receiving selections to be played atthe venue.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network and thesecond network are different networks.
 3. The system of claim 2, whereinat least one of the first network and the second network is theInternet.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one venuecontroller is registered with the server system.
 5. The system of claim4, wherein the server system implements a subscription-based servicesuch that the users are not charged for the selections.
 6. The system ofclaim 1, wherein each of the plurality of video data sets includes amusic video.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more displaydevices deployed at the venue are displays of the mobile devices.
 8. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the one or more display devices deployed atthe venue is a sound system at the venue.
 9. The system of claim 1wherein the users are physically present at the venue with their mobiledevices.